Here is an educated guess on how it will shake out...
Quarterfinals
No. 1 Sam Houston State vs. No. 8 Nicholls State – On one hand, you have one of the hottest teams in the league (Sam Houston State) and in the other, a team that barely squeaked into the postseason. The Bearkats have three options on offense (Corey Allmond, Ashton Mitchell and Gilberto Clavell) while the Colonels have one (Anatoly Bose). It shouldn't be close. Daily Record Prediction: No. 1 Sam Houston State. CORRECT.
No. 2 Stephen F. Austin vs. No. 7 UT-Arlington – The Lumberjacks enter the tournament coming off their first home conference loss since 2008. SFA dropped a 65-63 decision to Texas-San Antonio last Saturday night. The Mavericks lost their final three games but feature the reigning SLC Player of the Year (Marquez Haynes). While Haynes might be able to keep UTA close, he won't be able to win the game single-handily. Daily Record Prediction: No. 2 Stephen F. Austin. CORRECT.
No. 3 Texas A&M-Corpus Christi vs. No. 6 Texas-San Antonio – The Islanders finished the regular season with a 10-6 record in conference games while the Roadunners ended a game behind at 9-7. A&M-Corpus Christi and UTSA met twice this season with each team winning at the opposing team's home floor. The Islanders are a solid all-around team with guard Kevin Palmer and forwards Justin Reynolds and Demond Watt while the Roadrunners are guard-based with Devin Gibson and Morris Smith IV. If A&M-Corpus Christi pounds it inside with Reynolds and Watt, don't look for UTSA to keep up. Daily Record Prediction: No. 3 Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. CORRECT.
No. 4 Southeastern Louisiana vs. No. 5 Texas State – These are two of the hottest teams in the SLC right now. The Lions and Bobcats are each riding three-game win streaks but Texas State had the tougher schedule. The Bobcats battled Northwestern State, UTSA and Sam Houston State while SLU tackled Central Arkansas, Northwestern State and McNeese State. The Lions won the teams' only meeting this season by nine points, but that's still fresh in Texas State's mind. Look for the team that played the tougher schedule to close the season to come out on top. Daily Record Prediction: No. 5 Texas State. INCORRECT.
Semifinals
No. 1 Sam Houston State vs. No. 5 Texas State – If the Bobcats want to win this game, they'll need to play as well as they did in the teams' final meeting this season. Texas State went blow-for-blow with the Bearkats and walked out with a 101-97 overtime win in San Marcos. It wasn't the same story when the two teams met in Huntsville, with Sam Houston running Texas State out of the building. Can the Bobcats continue their momentum after a first-round win? Or will the Bearkats use the teams' last meeting as fuel to an already smoldering fire? Bet on the second. Daily Record Prediction: No. 1 Sam Houston State. CORRECT, but incorrect matchup.
No. 2 Stephen F. Austin vs. No. 3 Texas A&M-Corpus Christi – This might be the best game of the tournament. Both teams have solid guard play and forwards that can take over the game if need be. While the teams' only meeting during the regular season was forgettable (a 21-point win for the Lumberjacks), look for it to be a little bit closer. Daily Record Prediction: No. 2 Stephen F. Austin. CORRECT.
Final
No. 1 Sam Houston State vs. No. 2 Stephen F. Austin – Kind of funny how the seeding works its way out, huh? Both teams were head-and-shoulders above the rest of the conference during the regular season, but the Bearkats were on another echelon. Texas State head coach Doug Davalos said it best, “Take Sam Houston State out of it and then draw teams out of a hat and every matchup will be even.” There's a reason he took Sam Houston State out of the running: The Bearkats are just that good. Daily Record Prediction: No. 1 Sam Houston State. CORRECT.
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